Part of Newtown to have extra police anti social behaviour patrols

Extra policing is to be put in place in Newtown to prevent anti-social behaviour.

Nearly £1million has been secured to help fund extra policing hours to tackle anti social behaviour throughout the Dufed Powys Police area, including the Newtown East area.

The funding is part of Operation Ivydene where ten areas of the force will receive an extra 11,000 hours of police patrols over eight months.

Chief Constable Dr Richard Lewis said: “Antisocial behaviour can have a serious impact on the quality of life on people who want to go about their daily lives. 

“These hotspots have been selected as the areas experiencing the highest volumes of violence and antisocial behaviour (ASB) offences and based on local intelligence.

“The patrols aim to provide a reassuring presence to help people feel safe while also proactively disrupting crime and acting as a deterrent.” 
 
There will be about 27 hours per week of hotspot patrols in each of the areas – which are in addition to regular police patrols – which will also involve use of specialist resources, such as drones, depending on the issues being targeted. 
 
Officers are also conducting surveys in the hotspots to help the force better understand and address the concerns of those living there.
 
‘Antisocial behaviour’ is a broad term which includes behaviour that has caused or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to a member or members of the public. Criminal and non-criminal behaviours such as littering, vandalism, public drunkenness, aggressive dogs, or noise nuisance may also be considered ASB. 

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn has secured nearly £1 million from the Home Office to collaborate with Local Authorities and Dyfed-Powys Police on initiatives aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB).  
He said: “ASB can have an overwhelming impact on its victims and, in some cases, on the wider community.  
“An effective response to antisocial behaviour requires innovation, strong partnerships between local agencies, and a mindset that puts victims first. These ASB Hotspot initiatives aim to achieve just that.” 
 
Over the next eight months, monthly monitoring will be underway and submitted to the Home Office. Outcomes that will be reported on include hours of visible foot patrols, weapons recovered, number of arrests, number of ASB powers used, and number of stop searches.